* Democrat Obama talks with Iraqi foreign minister

* Former Vice President Al Gore endorses Obama

* Republican McCain questions Obama's judgment on Iraq

By Caren Bohan

DETROIT, June 16 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday he plans to visit Iraq and Afghanistan before November's election and was encouraged by a recent reduction in violence in Iraq.

Obama, who later picked up the endorsement of former Vice President Al Gore at a Detroit rally on Monday night, spoke by telephone with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and reiterated his support for a pullout of U.S. troops.

"I told him that I looked forward to seeing him in Baghdad," Obama said in Flint, Michigan, an important state in the November election against Republican John McCain.

"I emphasized to him how encouraged I was by the reductions in violence in Iraq but also insisted that it is important for us to begin the process of withdrawing U.S. troops, making it clear that we have no interest in permanent bases in Iraq," he said.

Obama aides did not give details of the visit. McCain, a staunch advocate of the war and frequent visitor to Iraq, has repeatedly criticized Obama for his failure to visit the country since 2006.

Obama spoke to Zebari one day after the Iraqi official met McCain in Washington. The Arizona senator has made foreign policy and national security a campaign focus and criticizes Obama as too inexperienced to run the country.

At a Detroit rally, Gore threw his support behind the presumptive Democratic nominee, declaring "the other party seems to think age and experience will work in their favor."

Gore said it was time for a new direction.

"Even as we acknowledge his long experience we must, and we will, make our case that America simply can not afford to continue the policies of the last years," he said.

THE SURGE

McCain, who strongly backed the buildup of U.S. troops ordered by U.S. President George W. Bush in Iraq, on Monday questioned Obama's judgment on Iraq.

"He was wrong when he said the surge would not succeed, he was wrong when he said that we were failing in Iraq as a result of it and he is wrong today," McCain said at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.

McCain said he hoped Obama would meet with the U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus.

"I ask him to request a meeting with General Petraeus and sit down and get his assessment of the military situation," McCain said. "I don't know how you can draw conclusions such as Senator Obama has without even sitting down and talking directly to our commander on the ground."

Obama says he would begin a pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq shortly after taking office. His plan calls for the removal of one or two brigades a month, which would allow a pullout of combat troops to be completed within 16 months.

The first-term Illinois senator said he told Zebari that if he wins the White House, "an Obama administration will make sure that we continue with the progress that's been made in Iraq, that we won't act precipitously."

But he said it was important to begin a withdrawal of troops to send a signal that the U.S. occupation of Iraq is not permanent.

McCain economic adviser Carly Fiorina said Obama's trip to Iraq was "a very good thing" and could force him to adjust his views. (Additional reporting by Andy Sullivan, Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Doina Chiacu) (To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)

AlertNet news is provided by